'Alfie' together with the archaeologies (left) and two 'scientist' delivering educational energy session

National Grid partners with Wessex Archaeology to support Lincolnshire schools

  • More than 450 pupils reached in interactive sessions as National Grid hosted science and archaeology sessions across Lincolnshire 
  • ‘Alfie’ headed into schools to give pupils his new workbook detailing historic finds in the area 
  • Items from an Anglo-Saxon cemetery were uncovered in rural Lincolnshire during work to build Viking Link and discussed with school children. 

National Grid has today launched a new STEM booklet ‘Alfie and the Archaeologist’, which will help school children learn about electricity, green energy and explain all about the world’s longest land and subsea HVDC interconnector, Viking Link.

The book tells a story about Alfie, a 10-year-old Anglo-Saxon living in Lincolnshire, and Dawn, an archaeologist. Together they learn about Viking Link, renewable energy and how the National Grid team who built the site discovered ancient finds while building the interconnector. The project team worked with Wessex Archaeology who helped develop and write the story of ‘Alfie’.

National Grid and Wessex Archaeology along with Mad Science have toured partner schools from across Lincolnshire, where over 425 children got to meet the team and take part in educational activities.

The children learned about the discoveries made during construction, archaeology and investigated replica Anglo Saxon props. They also got to experience an interactive 'electricity' session which was delivered by the Mad Science team along with meeting ‘Alfie’.

The book is aimed at pupils aged between 7 and 11 and helps support the science national curriculum.

National Grid Construction Director Gareth Burden said: As a business that touches every corner of the country, working with local communities is at the heart of what National Grid does. I am delighted that the Viking Link team has been able to work with Wessex Archaeology along with schools from the area to inspire the next generation. With the launch of the book ‘Alfie and the Archaeologist’ we hope to help children learn about electricity, renewable energy and how Viking Link plays a crucial role in decarbonisation.”

Read the educational, fun illustrated story, which is also packed with facts and educational activities. 



Notes to editors 

National Grid visited the below schools:

  • Donington Cowley
  • Toynton
  • Stickney
  • Spilsby
  • Swineshead Fourfields 
     

Contacts 

For more information or interviews, please contact:

Sara Revell, Media Officer, National Grid
07811 768024
[email protected]
 

About Viking Link

Viking Link is the world’s longest land and subsea interconnector stretching for 475 miles between the UK and Denmark enabling the two countries to share electricity. 

The link is a joint venture between National Grid and Danish system operator Energinet. It has a capacity of 1.4GW which can provide enough electricity for up to 2.5 million UK homes. 

> Find out more about Viking Link

 

About National Grid Ventures 

National Grid Ventures operates outside of National Grid’s core regulated businesses in the UK and US where it develops, operates and invests in energy projects, technologies and partnerships to accelerate the development of our clean energy future.

National Grid Ventures operates a diverse portfolio of energy assets across the UK and US, including subsea electricity interconnectors, competitive transmission, wind and solar generation, battery storage and LNG storage and regasification.

> Find out more about National Grid Ventures

 

About National Grid

National Grid sits at the heart of Britain’s energy system, connecting millions of people and businesses to the energy they use every day. Our individual companies run the systems and infrastructure that deliver electricity across the country.

National Grid is pivotal to the energy systems in the UK and the north-eastern United States. We aim to serve customers well and efficiently, supporting the communities in which we operate and making possible the energy systems of the future.

National Grid in the UK

  • We own and operate the electricity transmission network in England and Wales, with day-to-day responsibility for balancing supply and demand. We also operate, but do not own, the Scottish networks. Our networks comprise approximately 7,200 kilometres (4,474 miles) of overhead line, 1,500 kilometres (932 miles) of underground cable and 342 substations.
  • Other UK activities mainly relate to businesses operating in competitive markets outside of our core regulated businesses; including interconnectors and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) importation terminal – all of which are now part of National Grid Ventures. National Grid Property is responsible for the management, clean-up and disposal of surplus sites in the UK. Most of these are former gas works.

Find out more about the energy challenge and how National Grid is helping find solutions to some of the challenges we face at https://www.nationalgrid.com/group/news.

National Grid undertakes no obligation to update any of the information contained in this release, which speaks only as at the date of this release, unless required by law or regulation.

 

About Wessex Archaeology

Bringing together leading minds and practitioners in the sector, Wessex Archaeology is a trusted archaeology and heritage service provider and educational charity. From their network of international offices, they work in partnership with our clients to deliver sustainable solutions to manage the historic environment – above ground, below ground and underwater. They are committed to our social impact. This means using the knowledge and connections they make through our commercial activities as a catalyst to engage the communities in which they work. Follow them on social media @wessexarch